Controversy erupts over ‘Judensau’ carving on church showing Jews suckling the teats of a sow as a rabbi looks under its leg and tail

A bitter row over a medieval anti-Semitic carving on a church wall risks overshadowing Germany’s celebrations on Tuesday to mark the 500th anniversary of the Reformation, the seismic theological shift started by German theologian Martin Luther.

The bas relief sculpture at the heart of the dispute dates from around 1300 and is one of Germany’s last remaining examples of vulgar anti-Jewish folk art that was common in Europe during that era.

The graphic stone image shows Jews suckling the teats of a sow as a rabbi looks intently under its leg and tail. The hateful symbolism is that Jews obtain their sustenance and scripture from an unclean animal.

Many churches in the Middle Ages had similar “Judensau” (Jewish pig) sculptures, which were also aimed at sending the stark message that Jews were not welcome in their communities.